Mark Zhuang

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On February 21, 2025, Commissioner Hester Peirce released a statement inviting input from interested parties on the regulation of crypto assets.  Commissioner Peirce stated that greater crypto clarity requires the public’s input, and the Crypto Task force therefore welcomes “input from anyone in the public with an interest in these topics, and a wide range…

On February 19, 2025, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission” or “SEC”) dropped its appeal of a ruling by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas (“District Court”) on November 6, 2024 that struck down the Commission’s “Dealer Rule.”

The Dealer Rule, adopted by the SEC on February 6, 2024, further…

On December 16, 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) adopted amendments (the “Amendments”) requiring the electronic filing, submission, or posting of certain forms required under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations thereunder, using structured, machine-readable data language as appropriate. The SEC also adopted amendments to the Financial and Operational…

Priorities Include Artificial Intelligence and Other Emerging Technologies, Complex Products, Reg BI, Cybersecurity, Outsourcing, Private Funds and Compliance with New and Amended SEC Rules

On October 21, 2024, the Division of Examinations (the “Division”) of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) released its examination priorities for fiscal year 2025 (which started October 1, 2024).

On July 31, 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced that it agreed to settle allegations that a California-based broker-dealer sold in excess of $13 million in “L bonds,” a speculative, unrated debt security, to retail customers with lower risk profiles.  The settlement of this case is notable because it was the SEC’s first…

The Division of Examinations (the “Division”) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) recently issued a Risk Alert (the “Risk Alert”) to SEC-registered broker-dealers providing insight and additional information regarding the Division’s exam process, along with an appendix describing the types of documents and information that may be requested and reviewed during an exam. As…

On June 27, 2024, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) issued Regulatory Notice 24-09 (the “Notice”) reminding member firms that FINRA’s rules and the securities laws apply to the use of artificial intelligence (“AI”), including large language models and other generative AI (“Gen AI”) technology, just as they apply when member firms use any…

On May 15, 2024, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) adopted amendments (the “Amendments”) to Regulation S-P under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), which governs the treatment of nonpublic personal information about consumers by certain financial institutions, to modernize and enhance the protections under the regulation.

The Amendments require broker-dealers…

Certain Principal Trading Firms, Private Funds, Investment Advisers and Other Market Participants May Become Subject to Registration

On February 5, 2024, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) adopted new rules – SEC Rules 3a5-4 and 3a44-2 (collectively, the “Final Rules”) – to further define the phrase “as part of a regular business” used in…

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) announced via Regulatory Notice 24-02 the effective dates and other important timeframes for new FINRA Rules 3110.18 (Remote Inspections Pilot Program) and 3110.19 (Residential Supervisory Location). Moreover, FINRA announced the end date of the COVID-19-related regulatory relief set forth in FINRA Regulatory Notice 20-08 with respect to the…